Safety GlassThere are two basic types of glass, tempered and plate-glass. Tempered glass is often referred to as safety-glass, because when it breaks it shatters into somewhat harmless beads. By contrast, plate-glass shatters into potentially deadly shards and can drop like the blade of a guillotine.

The older your home is, the more likely your windows or sliding glass doors may not comply with current, mandated safety standards.

This month, I was reminded of how important safety glass is while at my four-year-olds birthday party. One of my daughter’s little friends tried to run through a closed sliding glass door. Luckily, the child was ok and escaped with a few minor scratches. This likely would not have been the case if it wasn’t for the tempered glass. You can inspect your windows and doors for tempered glass by looking for a required permanent etched label. Generally, the label can be found near one of the corners. Tempered glass is required in the following hazardous locations:

Glass in sliding glass or fixed panels of sliding doors.

Glass in doors where a 3 inch sphere could pass through the opening.

Tub/shower enclosures and doors and windows with a lower edge of less than 60 inches from the floor.

Windows beside doors with a vertical edge of glass less than 24 inches of a swinging door and a lower edge of glass less than 60 inches from the floor.

All glass in railings.

Glass less than 3 feet horizontally of stairs or landings and a lower edge less than 60 inches from the floor.

When walk-through hazards exist, which is defined by meeting all of the following:

Exposed area of glass that is greater than 9 feet.

Bottom edge less than 18 inches above the floor or ground.

Top edge greater than 36 inches above the floor or ground.

Within 36 inches horizontally of a walking surface.

Inspect your home now and insure that these hazardous locations are protected with tempered glass. Keep an accident from becoming a medical emergency, and especially if children live in the home or frequently visit you.